Spike.



R; E. L. CROSBY.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.22.19z7.

Patented May 28,1918,

f grvumvioz R EL CROSBY ROBERT E. L. CROSBY, 0F JONESBORO, ARKANSAS.

SPIKE.

meteor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 191%.

Application filed August 22, 1917. Serial No. 187,644.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. L. CROSBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at J onesboro, in the county of Craighead and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to certain improvements in spikes and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with rails of a track struc ture and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the same may be driven into a tie or other foundation with the possibility of said tie splitting being substantially eliminated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a spike of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the same, when in applied position is effectw ally held against upward movement by the passing of rolling stock and wherein said spike is provided with channeled sides to receive the ends of the grain of the tie or other timber that has been cut by the spike whereby the spike is positively held against retracting movement unless pulling strain is applied directly thereto and independently of the rail or other work.

The invention has for a still further object to provide anovel and improved spike including an entering or terminal point having double faces channeled to facilitate the driving of the spike into the tie or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved spike wherein the longitudinally disposed ribs or flanges are aiforded by the channeled faces thereof and which ribs or flanges serve as driving means to assure the proper travel of the spike within the tie or the like and which also serve to prevent bending of the spike during an extracting operation.

A still further object of-the invention is to provide a novel and improved spike which when operatively engaged with the tie and a co-acting rail serves effectively to prevent the spreadin of the rail and wherein said spike is provlded at the head portion with a heel for contact with the upper surface of the tie to afford an additional support for the rail and reduce to a minimum the entrance of moisture within the opening of the tie produced by the spike.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved spike wherein certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating a spike constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, certain of the details of construction of the spike being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation ofmy improved spike as herein embodied;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings S denotes a shank of my improved spike provided at one end with the head H. The head H has a lip or overhanging portion 1 adapted for engagement with a flange 2 of a rail R. The head H is" also provided with the heel 3, the under face of which being adapted for contact with the upper surface of the tie whereby additional support is aiforded the rail and which also serves to reduce to a minimum the entrance of moisture within the opening alforded by the shank S when driven into the tie.

The end portion of the shank S remote from the head H has opposite faces beveled to afford an entrance or terminal point 4. The beveled faces 5 of the point 4 have their side marginal portions defined by the outstanding ribs or flanges 6 and it has been found of especial advantage to have the beveled faces 5 disposed longitudinally on an inward curve or inbow so that the passage of the shank S within the tie T or other timber is materially facilitated.

The faces of the shank S complemental to the beveled faces 5 of the point 4 are each provided with a channel 7 extending from a predetermined point inwardly of the head H to the inner portion of the point 4. The bottom 8 of the channel 7 is inwardly inclined in a direction toward the point 4 whereby the outer end of the channel 7 is defined by a transverse shoulder 9, the inner face 10.of which being arranged on a predetermined bevel in order to facilitate the withdrawal of the spike from within the tie or other timber. a The side or longitudinal margin of the channel 7 is defined by the outstand ing ribs or flanges 11 which are arranged in continuity with the ribs or flanges 6 as said flanges serve as :cutting edges. As the spike enters the tie or other timber the inherent resiliency of the fiber of the tie or other timber intermediate the flanges 11 results in such fiber entering within the channels 7-so that the shoulders 9 serve to efiectively prevent upward movement of the spike under the influence of the rolling stock passing over the rail It has also been fully demonstrated in practice that the flanges 6 and 1 1 serve to prevent bending or flexure of the spike during an extracting operation and which is of'decided importance as it permits the spike to be repeatedly employed. It has also been established in practice that the flanges 6 and 11 co-acting with a grain of the wood when the spike is being driven within the tie or other timber cause the overhanging portion or lip to assume automatically a positionsubstantially parallel to the co-acting flange 2 of the rail R in the event the spike is initially applied with theoverhanging portion or lip'3 at a different angle.

The heel 3 as embodied in the head H results in said head possessing an increased body which serves to compensate for loss of metal due to corrosion whereby the life of the spike is materially prolonged. The heel 3 also serves toa'fford means whereby a claw or other extracting medium may be efiectively engaged with the head H when it is desired to extract or withdraw the spike from a tie or other foundation as it will be self evident that the heel 3 operates to prevent 'the head H entering or impinging the surfaceof the tieor other foundation which would otherwise render itextremely diflicult to eifect an extracting operation.

. From the foregoing description, it is thought to'be obvious that a spike constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principle and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A spike comprising a shank having a head at one end and having its opposite end portion provided with an entrance point, opposite faces of the shank being channeled from the inner end of the point to a predetermined point inwardly of the head, the bases of the channels being straight in cross section and longitudinally inclined inwardly toward thepoint, the end of the channels adjacent the point being defined by transverse beveled shoulders, the longitudinal margins of the channels being defined by flanges affording cutting edges, opposed faces of the entrance point being beveled, the side marginal portions of the beveled faces being also defined by outstanding flanges affording cutting edges, said flanges of the entrance point being substantially in continuity with the flanges defining the first named channels.

2. A spike comprising a shank having a head at one end and having its opposite end portion provided with an entrance point, opposite faces of the shank being channeled from the inner end of the point to a predetermined point inwardly of the head, the bases of the channels *being straight in cross section and longitudinally inclined inwardly toward the point, the ends of the channels adjacent the point being defined by transverse beveled shoulders, the longitudinal margins of the channels being defined by flanges affording cutting edges, opposed faces of the entrance point beinv beveled, the side marginal portions of the beveled faces being also defined by outstanding flanges affording cutting edges, said flanges of the entrance point being substantially in continuity with the flanges defining the first named channels, each of said beveled faces being disposed longitudinally on an inward curvature.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT 'E. L. CROSBY.

Witnesses:

W. E. LAwsoN, -M. R. WILsoN.

Gopi'es of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents.

Washington, 1). 0. 

